-
Grote Markt
Brussels
Six hundred years ago, Brussels was just a nice place to stop and buy a waffle on the way to Bruges. Today it's a city of two million people, the capital of Belgium, the headquarters of NATO, and the seat of the European Union. The Bruxellois are cultured and genteel — yet you may notice an impish sparkle and joie de vivre, as evidenced by their love of comic strips and their civic symbol: a statue of a little boy peeing.
At a Glance
▲▲▲ Grand Place Main square and spirited heart of the Lower Town, surrounded by mediocre museums and delectable chocolate shops.
▲▲▲ Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium Museums displaying Old Masters, turn-of-the-century art, and works by Belgian Surrealist René Magritte.
▲▲ Manneken-Pis World-famous statue of a leaky little boy.
▲▲ BELvue Museum Interesting Belgian history museum with a focus on the popular royal family.
▲ European Parliament Soaring home of Europe's governing body.
▲▲ Mémorial 1815 State-of-the-art museum at the site of the Battle of Waterloo.
▲ City Museum Costumes worn by the Manneken-Pis statue and models of Brussels' history.
▲ Fashion and Lace Museum World-famous Brussels lace and embroidery.
▲ St. Michael and Ste. Gudula Cathedral White-stone Gothic church where Belgian royals are married and buried.
▲ Musical Instruments Museum Exhibits with more than 1,500 instruments, complete with audio.
▲ Autoworld Hundreds of historic vehicles.
▲ Royal Army and Military History Museum Vast collection of weaponry and uniforms.
▲ AfricaMuseum Ethnography and natural history of Central Africa, and an examination of Belgium's colonial past.
Belgian Comic Strip Center Homage to hometown heroes including the Smurfs, Tintin, and Lucky Luke.
